Pleasanton Weekly

News - October 26, 2012

Rotary Club's 'Spirit Run' set for Sunday

Event to benefit local schools, Wheelchairs for the Needy program

by Jeb Bing

The Rotary Club of Pleasanton will hold its second annual Halloween Spirit Run on Sunday with proceeds to benefit the club's Wheelchairs for the Needy program, in partnership with the Wheelchair Foundation.

The club also will donate $5 of each registration to a designated Pleasanton school or school club.

To date, the Rotary Club of Pleasanton has donated more than $1 million dollars to various charities.

The Oct. 28 event, patterned after the club's popular Father's Day Spirit Run, will include a 5K "Run & Walk," starting at 9 a.m. under the Arch on Main Street, and a "Kids' Challenge," starting around 10:15 a.m.

Club members as well as volunteers from other civic organizations will staff the event on race day. Registration will start at 7: 30 a.m. in the parking lot on Main Street next to Round Table Pizza.

The 5K Run or Walk will follow closed and monitored streets and a portion of the nearby Arroyo trails. The 5K start will just be a few hundred feet west of the Arch on Main Street with the finish line set up under the Arch. The Kids' Challenge, for ages 2-8, is a number of age-specific 100-yard dashes on the closed portion of Main Street, also finishing underneath the Arch.

Main Street will be closed for the event with its reopening set for shortly after 11 a.m.

Trophies will be awarded to the top male and female finishers, as well as the top male and female Masters (over 45 years old) winners. In addition, medals will be given to designated age groups for both male and female participants.

Each child participating in the Kids' Challenge will receive a finisher ribbon. Medals will also be awarded for the best costumes with multiple kid and adult divisions.

The Halloween Spirit Run will utilize the most advanced chip-timing system available, provided by On Your Mark Events. Race results will be posted at www.spiritrun.com and www.onyourmarkevents.com.

All participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt, refreshments and will each receive a ticket to a huge after-race drawing with over $1,500 in prizes. Online registration closed at midnight, Oct. 25; those still wanting to participate can register at the event.

For more Halloween Spirit Run information, visit the Spirit Run website at www.SpiritRun.com or contact On Your Mark Race Events at 209-795-7832.